Wolfville CAO heading back to Alberta after less than year on job

Less than a year after he was hired, Wolfville’s Chief Administrative Officer has handed in his resignation, effective immediately.

Josh Pyrcz explained to the council “that he has decided to return to Alberta to pursue new endeavors,” according to a late-night Friday news release from the council.

Pyrcz’s resignation was effective Friday, and the town’s finance director, Mike MacLean, will take over as acting CAO.

MacLean will work with the town council as they begin the process of recruiting a new CAO, said the release.

“Town Council, as well as the Management Team, remain committed to completing the key projects identified in the 2014/15 Town Budget and to continuing efforts for achieving the Key Strategic Directions outlined in the 2014 – 2017 Council Strategic Plan,” said Deputy Mayor David Mangle in the release.

Pyrcz grew up in Wolfville. He graduated from Acadia University in 2002, according to his LinkedIn profile, and went on to graduate school and two positions in Alberta.

Wolfville has had bad luck in the last few years retaining its CAOs.

Before Pyrcz was hired late last August after an “extensive search,” according to a news release from then.

Before that, Diane Mombourquette spent 18 months in the job before leaving in April 2013, according to the Kings County Register.